Mara Vanderslice: October 2008 Archives

Respond to Focus on the Family Action "Letter from 2012 in Obama's America"

James Dobson is promoting a Letter from 2012 purporting to offer a vision after four years of an Obama administration. This letter, filled with doomsday projections, is fearmongering of the worst kind - a sensationalist fiction with almost no basis in reality.

How does it reflect on our Christian witness in the world to see self-described Christian leaders engage in such blatant fearmongering in order to influence a political race?  When Americans read Dobson's letter, do you think they'll come away thinking better of Christianity - or worse?

James Dobson should hear from those in the faith community that find this tactic appalling. Please tell James Dobson and Focus on the Family how you feel.

As Christians we have been choosing hope over fear for 2000 years. Our public witness should reflect our deepest hopes, not provoke unfounded fears.

We've set up a form that will allow you to send an email message to Focus on the Family's Citizen Link email address.  Send in your response today!

"Focus on the Family ---All we have to offer is fear itself!!! Very Christlike of them. What utter insanity."

"This kind of propaganda is ridiculous. No one thinks that any of this is going to happen, let alone all of it. I just can't understand how any Christian can think that this type of false witness is acceptable."

"Disgusting and appalling. The whole thing reeks of desperation and perpetrates fear. Nowhere does it contain any Christian witness or any evidence of any fruits of the spirit."

"I am so disappointed and bewildered that FOTF could consider this a Christ-like way to express their political opinions. Doesn't the Bible say 'perfect love casts out all fear' and 'fear not, for I have overcome the world!' I've supported FOTF for decades but this is the second shot of fear tactics and spreading of lies and gossip by their Action arm of the organization and I can't in good conscience give any of my money or time to them again."

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

For a generation, you have courageously stood on the front lines in
support of Christian family values.  I have long admired your work to
provide common-sense education and encouragement for families.  Dr.
Dobson's influential books, such as "The Strong-Willed Child," have given
hope and solace to millions of parents facing the challenges of raising
children.

In John's first epistle, he exhorts Christ followers to love as Christ
first loved us.  This love offers hope in the midst of any circumstance.
"There is no fear in love.  Perfect love casts out fear."

My brothers and sisters, this is no time for fear.  Barack Obama is not
the bogeyman you've made him out to be.  To the contrary, Senator Obama is
a thoroughly Christian man who has a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ.  He is less interested in reducing abortion through fiat than
reducing abortion through smart interventions that provide education,
support, and hope for expectant mothers.

We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars fighting the same old
zero-sum game - a game that pits Christians against the same Constitution
that guarantees their civil rights and religious liberties.  Let me be
clear: overturning Roe v. Wade would decrease freedom and liberty for all
Americans, including Christians.  The same justices who supported
overturning Roe have also supported allowing torture, and have turned a
blind eye to abuses of power by state and local governments.  These same
justices also support the use of capital punishment - taking the lives of
men and women like Karla Faye Tucker - and in this way they are obviously
opposed to a culture that holds the right to life as sacred.

Being pro-life means respecting all life, not just the unborn.

Being committed to liberty means liberty for all Americans, not just those
with whom we agree.

The issues of gay marriage and abortion are issues that cannot be resolved
through political action.  They have not been resolved and they have not
gone away, in spite of a generation of Christian leaders who have
politicized these issues and played on the fears and prejudices of their
fellow believers.

Perfect love casts out fear.

Let us seek to perfect our love for Barack Obama and for all our fellow
Americans.  We have real and serious disagreements.  But fearmongering and
doomsday projections are not the way to resolve these disagreements.

God's grace and peace be with you.

"If you read this blog, if you consider yourself a Christian, a smart one at that, please do your homework. I do not tell you who to vote for here. I present my take on both sides. I already know who I am 99% sure I will vote for come election day but like I've mentioned in the past, we should be people who do our research, read our Bible, discern the times. Don't just go with the flow, don't just vote for whoever your pastor or friends will be voting for!

The Matthew 25 Network...You can find out more about their candidate for President...Barack Obama here and discern for yourself."

"Faced with the two McCain supporters basing their votes solely on their pro-life convictions, I headed to Google and found some statistics. I was thrilled to find the Matthew 25 Network expressing the views I have held for so long...

In conclusion, YES, I can be an Obama supporter and be Pro-Life! I haven't even gone into the topic of supporting life in other ways, such as less war, and less pollution. I believe this is a very important point to make this election year! Please don't be a single issue voter, and spread the news that you can support LIFE and OBAMA!"

"The website was created by the Matthew25 Network, and I think it is important for any open-minded Christian to hear what they have to say. For years we've been bombarded by they Religious Right's views on what it means to 'pro-life,' ...It can be dangerous when we think one political party or one denomination thinks it is entitled to be sole owner and arbiter of divine truth. I am thankful for, and encourage civil discourse on the issue."

From Faithfully Dangerous:

"I am planning to vote for Barack Obama. I have heard from a couple of people who sincerely wonder how I, as a committed evangelical Christian, can vote for him. What do you think? Here are a few links that I have found interesting and instructive....Matthew 25 Network..."

Kate McDonald:

"For the wavering voter... I know you all are "voting for Jesus" and are "Kingdom focused"- I also know I have gotten so many emails about how confusing the election is this year! Some readers have sent me links or posted some really good thoughts that I thought might help us all out.

A couple of new sites readers sent me that I now LOVE...- This is a must read about Barack Obama!!!! Please get the truth!!"

*For links and a full collection of blog posts, visit the Matthew 25 Network blog.